Measured-service telephone system.



J. ERICKSON. MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC-6,1906. Lfi fimo Patented 0012.23, 1917.

3 SHETS-SHEET 2.

J. ERICKSON. MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 056- 6.1906

Patented Oct. 23,1917.

3 suns-sum -3.

. To all whom it may concern."

rrn sT ns PTEN JOHN ERICKSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR, 'ZBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFILLINOISJ MEASURED-SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Be it known that I, JOHN Eniokson, a

citizen of the United States of America,

and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain'newanduse:

ful Improvement in Measured-Service Tele-x phone Systems, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to automatic tele-- phone systems in general, but more particularly-to toll systems, and is in the nature of an improvement on the toll system disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 343,042, filed November 12, 1906.

An object of my present invention is provision'of a metering or'registering arrangement by. which the toll-station-tele- -ment for or registration has-made either immediate payment for or phone-can be used without the necessity of I depositmg a com, the call simply being registered and paid for afterward.

Another object is to provide an improved .arrangement for enabling thecalling sub-.

scriber to hear the called subscriber answer, without making it possible'for the calling subscriber to use either his transmitter or" receiver for talking'with the called subthe proper pay-' scriber, except by making of the successfu call.

It is also an object of my invention to provide certain novel features and details and combinations tending to increase the general eificiency of atoll-station or meas-' ured service system.

To the foregoing and other useful. ends, my invention consists inmatters herein disclosed-and claimed; and by station I mean any telephone stationwhich' cannot be used for conversin with a called subscriber until after the ing' subscriber registration of the successful call. a

In theaccompanying drawing, Figure-1 2;- shows diagrammatically a calling 'substa f tion and a called substation of any im- I proved ..ty'pe connected office The calling substation #500 has allotted to it the first-selector A of the general t plunger controlling the'mechanism.

type disclosed'in United States Patent No."-

815,321, granted March 13, 1906, to Keith, ;i

Erickson. It will be noticed that the central battery B has'its positive) terminal preferably grounded. The operat ing relays of the central switches are nor- -mally connected to the-non-grounded termi Erickson and- Specification of Letters Patent.

E-itsnormal position, the term tOll- I through a. central."-

with a section 0 Patented Oct. '23, ion.

A pp1ication'fi1edDecember 6, 1906. Serial No. 846,531. 7 i I I nal ofsaid battery, so thatthe subscribenby grounding his line conductors,may operate the said switch, as is'usually the'custom in systems of the class in connection-with I which I have elected to illustrate my invention. In addition to the said first-selector there, is shown at .the central oflice .a con.-

nector O ofthe'generaltype described in United States Patent No. 815,176,. granted March 13, 1'9,06,to Keith," Erickson and Erickson. Another 'first-selector allotted to the called line is shown at 1). v

At the substation #500 the 2 and the releasing l y 3 0f the call regiswhich latter is pressed'to the rightby the spring 6; When the" relay armature 4 is locked, the springs 7 8 and 9 which it 'controls are forced together.-- The springs 7 and 8 when in contact short-circuit the secondary winding 10 of the induction-coil 11, a

and the closure ofthe springs 7, 8 and '9 l shunts the receiver 12 through the resistance-coil. Being locked] the armature 4 --may be unlocked by pressing a: plunger (not shown), which latter upon-returning,- by

suitable means, presses the portion 15 of the locking armature or .latch 5 to the right,

' driving the angledterminal 1 6 to theleft,

armature 4 to resume due to the tension of the spring 7. Said armature 4. may also be unlocked by the 7 release "magnet 3. winding 17 is included. in the subscribers and. permitting the "switch-release circuit, whereby the said release magnet 3- may. be energized when the subscriber hangs up his receiver.

Fig. 2 is aleft h'an'd" view of the register, with a sectionof the 'cover'cut away, showing- 1 the 'relative'positionsT oi. the. relays, armatures, etc.

f Fig. 3 is a front view of the same, with the-cover'in place,'-.vsho wing the meter and Fig. 4 is 1a right-hand view of the same, the cover cutaway.

. Fig. 5'is a front view the cover removed. 1 p I Fig. 6 is a plan view of the register. Fig. 7 is a'bottom view of the same.

The

of the meter, with vThe cam arm 21 normall Fig. 8 is a perspective of the locking latch and plunger mechanism.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show more clearly the locking latch '5 and the spring 158, which spring is the means whereby the armature 16 is unlocked when the subscriber registers.

The substations in the system may be of any suitable or approved type. The substation #500 (Fig. 1), forinstance, is provided with the usual talking circuits and switch-hook .controlling said circuits, and with calling and signaling devices. The switch-hook 19 is provided with a number of cam arms 20, 21, 22 and 23 for controlling local circuits. The cam arm 22-norma1ly engages the ringer circuit spring 24, which circuit includes the ringer 25, said ringer being normally bridged across the subscribers line. controls the ground springs 26 and 27 or putting the subscribers calling device in connection with the ground terminal G of the battery B.

" When the switch-hook is up, the cam arm 20 also controls the local circuit springs 28 and 29. The release springs 30, 31 and 32 are controlled by the cam arm 23 for releasing the switching apparatus at the central oflice, as well as for energizing the release magnet 3 of the toll or measured service attachment. In the local circuit there-are, of course, in. cluded the transmitter 33, the local battery 34 and primary winding 35 of the induction coil 11. In the secondary circuit that comprises the receiver 12 and the secondary winding 10 there is included a condenser 36 for keeping the subscribers line'conductors normally open. The subscribers calling device may be of any suitable type. I have represented said calling device as comprising a couple'of push-buttons 37 and 38 and a couple of springs 39 and 40 that normally engage the contact points 41 and 42, respectively. Said springs 39 and 40 are adapted to be separated from their engaging contact points and thrust against aground post 43. When the ground springs 26 and27 close into contact, said ground post is connected with ground G through the winding of the coil 2. If the subscriber #500 wishes to make a call he proceeds as follows: If he desires to call the number 220 he removes his receiver from the sWitch-hook, and operates thevertical push-button 37 twice and the rotary push-button 38 once; again the first button is pressed twice and the second button once; for the last time the button 37 is pressed ten times and the button 38 once.

By pressing the button 37 twice for the first v digit of the desired number, the shaft (not shown) of the first-selector A is raised two steps and the switch-shaft wipers 45, 46 and 47 are raised to the second level of the line and private banks, respectively. The operation is as follows: When the spring 39 engages the ground post 43 an energizing circuit is established through the vertical line relay 50 of the first-selector A, and in series with the winding of the locking relay 2." The current in this circuit flows .from ground G- through the winding of then attracts its armature 4 and permits the spring 6 to force the angled section 16 over the armature 4, thereby locking said magnet. It will be understood that the said angled section 16 normally rests against the left-hand rim-of the armature 4, as shown at substation #220. As soon as the springs 7 and 8 are forced into contact, as previously stated, the secondary winding 10 of the induction-coil 11 is short-circuited or shunted. This short-circuit may be traced from the spring 7 to the conductor 59, thence to the secondary winding 10 and to the conductor 60, thence to the spring 8, which spring, as stated, is in engagement with the spring -7. Furthermore, the

springs 8 and 9 being in contact, the coil 13 is shunted across the terminals ofthe receiver 12. This shunt may be traced from the spring 7 to the conductor 59 and to the receiver 1.2, thence from. the other terminal so i of the said receiver to the coil 13 and the spring 9, thence through the spring 8 to the spring 7." Each time that the vertical line relay 50 is energized its armature 61 ground spring 63, as a result energizing the which the-current for energizing said ver tical magnet flows may be traced from ground Gr through the springs 63 and 62 to presses the line relay spring 62 onto the -vertical magnet-64. The circuit through the conductor '65, thence to the private springs 66 and 67, through the Vertical magnet 64 to the battery lead 58, thence through battery B to ground G. Each time that the vertical magnet 64 is energized it operates to raise the shaft and shaft wipers one step.

When a subscriber presses the spring 40 onto the ground post 43, the rotary line relay 68 of the first-selector A is energized.

comprises the said rotary line relay .68 may be traced asv follows: from ground G through the relay 2, conductor 51, springs 27 and 26, conductor 52 to the ground post p 43, thence to the spring 40; rotary line conductor 70, side switch wiper 71, contact point 72 to the rotary line relay 68, through thebridge-cut-ofi' springs 73, 56 and 57 to the battery lead 58, thence through battery B to ground G. Having once been energized, the locking relay 2 at the registering device E is not further operated for the time being. The rotary line relay, however, upon attracting its armature presses. the line relay spring 7 1 onto the ground spring 63 and closes an energizing circuit through the private magnet 69. The current for the said private magnet passes from ground Gr through the springs 63 and 7 4 to the winding of the private magnet 69', thence tobattery lead- 58, and throughbattery B to ground G. The private magnet, upon energizing and deenergizing, allows the side switch wiper 75 to engage the contact point 76, thereby closing an energ'zing circuit through the rotary magnet 77. The current in this circuit passes from ground G to the contact point 76, side switch wiper 75, through one winding of the magnet 77 to the interrupter springs 78 and 79, thence to I the second winding of therotary magnet,

- to the-batterylead 58, thence through battion.

tery B and to ground G. When the rotary magnet 77 is energized, as described, the

rotary armature operates to carry the shaft I and shaft wipers in a circular direc- After the said magnet rotates .the shaft one step, theside swltch' passes from second .to third position, as 'is well known,

providing there are no busy contacts to pass ,over. If the private .wiper 47 meets a busy. or grounded contact, the private magnet 69 is retained energized, and as a result the side switch is not permitted to pass to third *position until 'the rotary magnet has'carried.

the shaft and wiper overthe last busy con-.

tact. If, as assumed, theshaft wipers are stopped on the first contact 'of the second level of the line bank, the subscribers line conductors 53 and 70' will, when the side switch wipers 54 and 71 pass into engagement with the contact points 80 and 81, be

extended to the connector- .C over the conductors 82 and 83. 'Thesecond digit is called when the subscribers line conductors have been extended to the-connector G. The

vertical button 37 is now pressed twice, carrying the spring 39 onto the ground post 43,

and as a result energizing the verticaT line relay 8 10f the connector C. Current for energizing the said relay flows over the following path: from ground G' to the relay 2, conductor 51, through the springs 27' I and 26, conductor 52, through the ground post 43, spring 39, vertical line conductor 53, side switch wiper 54, contact point 80,

shaft wiper 45, trunk conductor 82 to thevertical line relay 84:, .thence to battery lead 58, and through-battery B to' ground G,

Each time that the vertical line relay is enoperates to raise the shaft and shaft wipers one step ata time-until the said wipers are carried up two steps to a level in which are located the terminals of the line 220. When the rotary line "conductor 0 is grounded, the rotary line relay 92 becomes energized through the ,following path: from ground G to the relay 2, conductor 51, through the springs 27- and 26, conductor 52, groundpost 13, through the rotary line conductor 70, side switch wiper71, contact point 81, shaft wiper 46, trunk conductor 83, through the winding of the. rotary line relay 92 'to the battery lead 58, thence through battery B and to groundG. The

energizing of the said relay causes the energizing of the private magnet 93. over a-circuit extending from ground Gr through the springs 86 and 94, through the winding of the private magnet93, thence to the battery lead. 58, and through battery B to ground G. The energizing of the private magnet also releases the side switch and, therefore, moves the side switch wipers 95, 96, 97 and to second position. The vertical line conductor 53 being grounded ten times for the vlast digit, the vertical line relay 84 becomes energized ten times over the same circuit prevlously traced; but when the springs 85 and 86 are placed into contact, the rotary magnet 98 instead of the vertical magnet 87 is energized, since the side switch wiper 90 is now in engagement with the contact point 99. The energizing circuit for the said rotary magnet is from ground Gr throughthe springs 86 and 85 to the private magnet springs 88 and 89, side switc'hwiper 90,

contact'point 99, through the rotary magnet 98 to the battery lead 58, thence through battery B and to ground G. The rotary armature, beingattracted tentimes, rotates the shaft, carrying the shaft wipers 100,

101 and 102 into engagement with the tenth contact ofthe second level. The line wipers 100 and 101 are, therefore, placed in connection with the normal conductors 103 and,

104, and the private wiper 102 in engagement with the private normal. 105, The subscriber for the last time presses the rotary button 38 and grounds the rotary line conductor 7 0, thereby energizing the rotary line relay 92 over the circuit that has al-' ready been traced. The privatemagnet 93 is againenergized once and the side switch is shifted into third position. a result,

the subscribers extended line conductors 82 v and 83 are connected with the normal con ductors 103 and 104, through the condensers 106 and 107, at the instant that 'theside switch wipers and 96 engage with the contact points 108 and 109, respectively. The subscriber then presses his signaling button 44, thereby pressing the spring 48 onto the grounded contact point 49. An energizing circuit is established through the connector verticalline relay 84 from ground G through the coil 2, conductor 51, springs switch wiper 90 passed into engagement. with the contact point 112, and when the' vertical line relay is energized and the springs 85 and 86 are pressed into contact, the ringer relay 113 is energized. The current for energizing-the said relay flows from ground Gr through the springs 86 and 85,

private magnet springs 88 and 89, side.

switch wiper 90, contact point 112 to the ringer relay 113, thence to the battery lead 58, and through battery B to ground G.

Said relay upon attracting its armature forces the springs 114 and 115 out of engagement with the springs 116 and 117 and into engagement with the springs 118 and 119. As a result the ringer generator H is bridged across the normal conductors 103 and 104,

and the subscribers bell 120'at the station #220 is then rung. The ringing current flows from the ringer generator H to the springs 119 and 115, to the side switch wiper 95, contact point 108, connector shaft wiper 100, normal conductor 103, line conductor 121, through the switch-hook 122, thence through the spring 123 to the ringer 120,

through the rotary line conductor 124, rotary line normal conductor 104, connector shaft wiper 101, contact point 109 and side switch wiper 96, through the ringer relay springs 114 and 118, and back to the ringer generator H. The subscriber at the substation #220 upon hearing the signal removes his receiver 125 fromthe switch-hook 122, thereby disconnecting the bell 120 from across his line, and bridging instead his secondary talking circuit comprising the receiver 125 and the secondary winding 126 of the induction-coil 127 and the condenser 128. Since the meter apparatus at station 220 is in normal condition, the subscriber .will find his telephone in condition for'talking. Upon answering, he speaks into the transmitter and thereby induces a current in the secondary winding 126 which will pass to the line conductors 121 and 124. This current, by way of the heavy line conductor established to the rotary shown in Fig. 1, will reach the line conductors 53 and 70 of the calling substation. The current then passes from conductor 53 to the spring 39, contact point 41to the springs 111 and 110, to the push-button spring 48, through the condenser 36, conductor 60, through the springs 8 and 7 to the conductor 59, thence through the receiver 12 to the contact point 42, through the spring 40 to the rotary line conductor 7 0. Although the coil 13 is shunted across the receiver 12 from the springs 8 and 9 to the contact point 42, it does not cut ofi' all the current through the said receiver, so that the calling subscriberis able to hear the called subscriber when he answers; but he is absolutely unable to use his transmitter for talking, since said transmitter is short-circuited, as explained. The

calling subscriber then presses a plunger or A button, which latter operates to release the.

armature 4 from the locking latch or arm 5.- The pressing of the/plunger also causes the meter to register a call, as will be more fully explained. The springs 7, 8 and 9 at once separate, so that the subscribers talking apparatus at the calling substation is restored and connected with the talking apparatus of the called substation. When the subscribers are through talking the calling subscriber restores his receiver 12 to his switch-hook, which latter upon descending causes the cam 23 to force the release springs 30, 31 and 32 into contact. As a result the vertical androtary line conductors 53 and 70 are grounded simultaneously at ground The circuit from the said ground to the vertical line conductor 53 passes through the winding 17 of the coil 3 to the release spring 32, thence through the springs 31 and 30 to the vertical line conductor 53, andfrom the release spring 31 the connection is line conductor 70. Both line conductors being grounded simultaneously, the switching apparatus is released in a well known mannerthat is, when the line conductors become grounded simultaneously, the line relays 84 and 92 of the connector C are energized simultaneously, pressing the trunk-release springs 65' and 66 into contact. As a result an energizing circuit is established through the release magnet 67' in series with the backnector sha and side switch, as is Well known, are-restored, breaking'the energiz-' I ing circuit for the bridge-cut-ofl' relay 142 of the first-selector D; and when the ground is removed from the line conductors all the. magnets involved ,in the release are deen- I release rela 14 of the selector A. The conwould have been prevented by the grounded contact point which the private wiper 102 meets while the side switch wiper 97 is in second position. Therefore, the private magnet spring 18 of the connector is placed in connection with ground when the rotary line conductor 70 is grounded, and the private magnet 93 is energized, so that when cal magnet 87 and not the ringer relay 113 the private springs 18- and 18' close in-contact, a release circuit is established through the release magnet 67 by a flow of current from the private bank contact to the private .is energized. As a result the switchshaft is raised and the switch-shaft springs 129 and-130 are closed into contact, and the busy .si'gnalingjfcurr'ent' generated in the coil 131 -.is'sen't outover the line of the calling subscriber from thel coil 131 through the springs 130 and 129 tothe contact point 132, thence to the side switch wiper 96, ringer relay springs 114 and-116,. conductor133 to the .rotary line-condenserf1-O'7', first selector rota'ry line wiper- 46, contact-point 81, fside switch wiper 71, rotary line'conductor 70,

' through the receiver 12 and coil- 13 in multiple, as already described, 'to' the Vertical line conductor 53, thence to theside switch wiper 54, contact point 80, vertical line wiper 45, vertical, trunk conductor 82 to the vertical line relay 84, thence to the battery lead 58 and to the coil 131. The calling subscriber upon hearing the busy signal, instead of pressing the plunger, as described, will hang up his receiver and establish a flow of current through the winding 17 of the coil 3, as already described,

' to the vertical and rotary line conductors 53 and 7 O, thence through the vertical and rotary line relays 84 and 92, over circuits that are already familiar, to the battery lead 58, and through .battery B to ground G.

Said magnet 3 upon being magnetized at-" tracts its armature 134, which latter withdraws the latch 5 from the armature 4, permitting said armature to be restored, as already stated and for the object that has already been pointed out.

The meter or registering device, shown diagrammatically at E in Fig. 1, is constructed as follows: In general appearance the meter apparatus resembles-a small box, the only parts exposed being theface of the meter and the buttonor plunger 151; and

the operating mechanism is suitably inclosed in a case M, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The instrument as a whole is adapted to be secured to any suitable support, since the mounting frame 0 is rigidly secured to the base N, and the mechanism operates successfully in any position. The said base Nmay be of any suitable material, with tap holes 135 for admitting the screws 136, which latter secure the case M to the base N. The bracket 137 of the said base is provided for retaining the'frame 0, upon which is mounted the circuit-controlling mechanism. The frame 0 is secured to the base N by the. screws 138. The locking and releasing mag-' nets 2 and 3 (Fig. 1) are set up within the said frame 0 and secured to the bottom of said frame by thescrews 139 (Figs. 5 and 7 The armature 4 of the coil 2 is, as

shown in Fig. 2, pivotally mounted upon the upright 140, and the armature 134 of the coil 3 is pivoted upon the section 141 (Fig. 4). There are two lugs 143 and 144 opposite the place allotted to the magnet 2, be-

tween which the latch 5 is (pivotally mounted. The portion 15 of sai latch is shown, in Figs. 4 and 7, projecting beyond the'outer surface of the front wall of theframe .0. Normally the armature 4 and latch 5 are in such ositions with relation to each other that t e end 16 rests upon the end of the which, if the armature'4 is attracted, car-- ries the terminal 16 over the armature 4 and 3 looks it in its attracted position. Near the base of the section 140 that supports the armature 4 there are fastened by the screws 145 the springs 7, 8 and 9, insulated from each other and from the frame 0. This is 'clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The said springs extend upwardly in front of the downwardly projecting angled section 146 of the armature 4. The spring 7 normally rests against the section 146 of the armature 1 4, and provides suflicient tension for retaining said armature 1n normal position. It

will be seen that when the magnet 3 attracts its armature. 134, after becoming energized,

when the release springs 30, 31 and 32 come 'case, then when the subscriber released the switching apparatus the subscribers talking circuit would be found locked in subseuently answering a call. The meter P Fig.4) is secured to the frame 0 by means of the bracket 148 and screws 149. The meter-operating mechanism, as clearly shown in Fi s. 7 and 8 consists of a slidin mem- D 7 b her 150 to which is secured the plunger push-button 151 by means of the screw 152. The piece 150 is adapted to be moved by the plunger 151 and is secured to the frame O by means of the screws 153 in the slot 154. The coil spring 155 is provided for restoring the piece 150 to its forward position after the plunger or button 151 has been pressed. One end of the said spring is retained upon the end of the post 156, which in turn is rigidly secured to the frame O. The other end is attached to the sliding member at the point 157, thus tending to at all times pull the piece 150 forward. The latch releasing spring 158, which is rigidly attached to the slidingmernber 150 by means of the screws 154, is provided with the projecting cam 159, which latter, during the return motion of the sliding member 150, rides over the portion 15 ofthe latch 5 and unlocks the armature 4. The rear end of the spring 158 is in engagement with the arm 160, which latter is loosely mounted upon the screw 161 (Figs. 7 and 9), said screw bein secured to the member 150. The relation 0 the spring projection 159 and the portion 15 maybe more clearly understood upon referring to Figs. 9, 10 and 11. It will be obvious that the meter device should only be made to register after the locking relay 2 has been energized-that is, after the armature 4 has been caught by the locking member 16. Ordinarilythat is, before the subscriber sends an impulse to the line, and before he energizes the relay 2, if the plunger 151 is pressed the carriage 150 controlled thereby cannot perform its full stroke, in order to prevent the meter from registering should some one accidentally or improperly press the plunger 151 while the telephone is idle. Themeans by which the carriage 150 is prevented from performing a full stroke comprises a stop 162 (Fig. 8) and a latch 160, through a slot in which the spring 158 passes, as shown. If the locking arm 16 is in normal positionthat is, if it is resting on end of the armature 4the terminal 15 is so depressed that as the carriage advances, when the plunger 151 is pressed, the flange 159 of the spring 158 is depressed ba the terminal 15, and as a result 'the'latc 160 is lowered sufficiently to catch the stop 162, thus preventing the meter from registering. Of course, while the member 16 is over the armature 4 the portion 15 is high enough to I admit the passage of the flange 159 of the spring 158 without lowering the latch 160 sufficiently to engage the stop 162. The operation is more clearly described as follows: In Fig. 9 the position of a section of the carriage mechanism is shown when the plunger has been pressed and while the angled terminal 16 of the locking latch 5 is resting on the end of the armature 4, as shown at subwhereby the arm 160 is also depressed, en-

gaging in its forward movement the stop 162. That is, by the time the carriage 150 reaches the position shown in Fig. 9, the

spring 158 is sufiiciently depressed to carry the arm 160 into engagement with the stop or lug 162, thus preventing a further advance of the said carriage. The stroke thus imparted to said carriage 150 is not of sufficient length to permit the cam arm 163 (Fig. 8) to operate the meter, which latter the said arm 163 controls through the medium of the arm 164. When the plunger 151 is released the carriage 150 is restored to normal position by the retracting spring 155. In Fig. 10 the arm 160 is shown as having cleared the stop 162. In this instance the relay 2 is energized, as shown at E in Fig, 1, and the latch 5 is over the armature 4, so that the portion 15 is farther off than in the last instance; therefore, the spring 158 cannot be depressed as much as in Fig. 9, and consequently the latch 160 does not meet the stop 162 as the carriage advances, so that the carriage 150 can make a full stroke, as shown in Fig. 11. On the return of the carriage 150 the cam 159, having passed from beneath the portion 15, then passes above the same, and presses the portion 15 downwardly, which releases the armature 4 from the terminal 16. As shown in Fig. 11, when the spring 158 reaches the limit of its stroke, the cam 159 passes from beneath the member 15 and on the return motion the cam, ibeing oblique, passes above the member 15. The armature resumes its normal position and the springs 7, 8 and 9 disengage, which restores the talking circuit, as previously described. The springs 165 and 166 are provided in order that only one call may be made for each operation of the meter. For example, and referring to Fig. 11, suppose when the sliding member 150 carries the spring cam 159 in contact with the portion 15 on the return stroke and releases the armature 4, that the plunger is held, thereby retaining the armature4 in a released position. Under these conditions a second callcould be made, and the relay .4 would not operate to close the springs 7, 8

5 ground connection, and the operation of the calling buttons 37 and 38, as previously explained, will be without effect upon the central station apparatus, and it will be necessary for the plunger and sliding member 150 0 to complete the return stroke before the substation can be operated successfully.

The windings of the magnets 2 and 3 may be of any suitable resistance; but with a central battery of fifty volts good results are obtained when the magnets :2 and 3 are each wound to a resistance of thirty ohms. The resistance-coil 13 may be wound to a resistance of forty-five ohms.

Thus it will be seen that the calling subscriber until the call has been registered by the operation of the metering device. The toll-station apparatus is always reset for further use by the hanging up of the telephone.

Qbviously, the use of the push-button 151 for signaling purposes is contingent on first using the calling mechanism, and'use of the telephone is contingent on first using or properly operating both the calling mechanism and the call-registering device.

Selectors and connectors, such as illustrated, can be arranged or employed-on a:

percentage basis, so that the switches will be less in number than the subscribers-1- that is, if first-selectors are employed as individual switches, then the connectors and intermediate selectors, if any, can be employed on a percentage basis; and if indilatter can also be arranged on a percentage basis; all in accordance with well-known practice, and so as to afford automatic trunking between subscribers lines.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a telephone exchange system, the

combination of switches, a calling mechanism for controlling said switches, a telephone, electromagnetically controlled means for rendering the telephone inoperative for talking, when the calling mechanism is used, by means of a shunt circuit about said telephone, and a call-meter having a push butscriber cannot talk with the called sub-' vidual switches are interposed between the subscribers and the first-selectors, then the the push-button for restoring the telephone to operative condition, and registering mechanism operated by the push-button.

3. In a telephone exchange system, the combination of automatic switches, a calling mechanism for controlling said switches, a call-registering device the operation of which by the calling subscriber is contingent on first using the said mechanism, means for locking said meter when operated, and electromagnetic means for unlocking the same.

4:. In a telephone exchange system, the combination of a lookout magnet, an armature therefor, means for locking said armature, a push-button for restoring said locking means and armature by the back stroke of said button, a call-registering mechanism telephone inoperative for talking by shortcircuiting the same when the calling mechanism is used, and a call-meter having a push button for restoring the telephone to operative condition, said system including trunk lines and automatic switches for extending connection from a calling to a called line.

6. In a telephone exchange system including subscribers lines, the combination of a lock-out magnet, an armature therefor, means for locking said armature, a pushbutton for restoring said locking means and armature by the back stroke of said button, a tall-registering mechanism operated by said button, a calling mechanism for making the call-registering mechanism operative, a'telephone, and devices by which use of the telephone is prevented until after the use of the calling mechanism and call-registering device, said system including trunk lines and automatic switches for extending connection from a calling to a called line,

having one motion to select a group and another motion at right-angles to the first motion to-find the called line in the predetermined group;

' 7. In a telephone exchange system including subscribers lines, the combination of a lock-out magnet, an armature therefor, means for locking said armature, a pushbutton for restoring said locking means and armature by the back stroke of said button, a call-registering mechanism operated by said button, a calling mechanism for making the call-registering mechanism operative, a telephone, and devices by which use of the telephone is prevented until after the use of the calling mechanism and call-registering device, said system including trunk lines and automatic switches for extending connection from a calling to a called line, having one motion to select a group and another motion at right-angles to the first motion to automatically select an idle trunk in the predetermined group.

8. In combination with the. call-effecting device of an automatic telephone, a register.

for the outgoing calls'comprising a set of registering-disks, electromagnetically controlled mechanism controllably connected with the call-effecting device whereby the circuits of the telephone are afl'ected upon the operationv ofthe said call-effecting device, and means whereby the registry-disks are operated and the circuit-affecting mechanism released from said call-effecting device and the circuits restored.

9. In combination with the call-eHecting device of an automatic telephone, a register for outgoing calls comprising registry-disks, means adapted to be operated by the callefiecting device, electromagnetically controlled mechanism intermediate of said means and the registry-disks whereby the re ceiver and transmitter circuits may be affectedat a predetermined point, and means controllingly connected with the registrydisks and the circuit-affectingmechanism whereby the former are operated and the latter released, from contact with the receiver and transmitter circuits.

10. .In a telephone exchange system, the combination of switches, a calling mechanism for controlling said switches, a telephone, electromagetically controlled means for placing a short-circuit about said telephone'to thereby render it inoperative for talking when the calling mechanismis used, and a call meter for restoring the telephone to operative condition when the calling subscriber hangs up his receiver.

11. In a telephone exchange system, the combination of switches, a calling mechanism for controlling said switches, a trans-. mitter and a receiver, electromagnetically controlled means for placing shunt circuits about said transmitter and receiver when the calling mechanism is used, and a call meter for restoring the telephone to operative condition when the calling subscriber hangs up his receiver.

12. In a telephone exchange system, th

' combination of switches, a calling mechanism for controlling said switches, a telephone, electromagnetically controlled means for rendering the telephone inoperative for talking when the calling mechanism is used, and a call meter having a push button for directly controlling means for restoring the telephone to operative condition.

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13. In a telephone exchange system, the combination of switches, a calling mechanism for controlling said switches, a telephone, a short-circuit about the telephone for rendering the telephone inoperative for talking when the calling mechanism is used, and a call meter having a push button for directly controlling means for restoring the telephone to operative condition, together with'electromagnetic means for also controlling said last means.

14:. In a telephone exchange system, the combination of switches, a calling mechanism for controlling said switches, a telephone, a short-circuit about the telephone for rendering the telephone'ino-perative for talking when the calling mechanism is used, a relay for controlling saidjshort-circuit, and a call meter having electromagnetically controlled means for directly controlling means for restoring the telephone to operasaid call-sending device and while said if switch-hook iselevated, and electromagnetic means for unlocking saidbutton.

17. In a substation telephone, automatic impulse-governing means for sending a call, means for recording a call, lockingmeans for said call recording'means, and electromagnetically controlled means associated with said call sending means for unlocking said call recording means.

18. Ina'telephone' system, a telephone, a calling mechanismfor said telephone, electromagnetically' controlled means for rendering said telephone inoperative for talking when said calling mechanism is used, by means of a shunt circuit about said telephone, and a call meter for restoring said telephone to operative condition when the subscriber hangs up his receiver.

19. In a telephone system, subscribers telephones, calling devices and switches controlled thereby, register mechanism comprising electromagnetically controlled means for rendering 'a telephone inoperative for talking when the associated calling device is used, by means of a shunt circuit about said telephone, and electromagnetic means for restoring said telephone to operative condition when the subscriber hangs up his receiver.

20. In a telephone system, automatic switches, a calling mechanism for controlling said switches, a call registering device the operation of which by the calling subscriber is contingent upon first using said mechanism .means for locking said device when operated, and electromagnetic means for unlocking said device when the callingsubscriber hangs up his receiver.

21. In a telephone system, a lockout magnet, an armature therefor, means for locking said armature, a push button for restoring said locking means and said armature, a

call registering mechanism operated by said 

